Lecture

Database Concepts
What is Database?
What is data?
• Data are the known facts or figures that have implicit meaning. It can also be
defined as it is the representation of facts, concepts or instructions in a formal
manner, which is suitable for understanding and processing. Data can be
represented in alphabets (A-Z, a-z), digits (0-9) and using special characters
(+,-.#,$, etc) e.g: 25, “ali” etc.

• Data is nothing but facts and statistics stored or free flowing over a network,
generally it's raw and unprocessed.
Information: Information is the processed data on which decisions and actions
are based. Information can be defined as the organized and classified data to
provide meaningful values. Eg: “The age of Ravi is 25”
Record: Collection of related data items.
File: File is a collection of related data stored in secondary memory.
Database Approaches
1. Manual Approach

2. File Processing/Oriented Approach

3. Database Management system Approach

File Processing/Oriented Approach:
• The traditional file oriented approach to
information processing each application has a
separate master file and its own set of personal
file. In file oriented approach the program
dependent on the files and files dependent upon
the programs.
File Processing/Oriented Approach:
• A collection of programs that perform services for the end-users
such as production of reports.

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Applications
Application Application

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Library Data Files Data Files
Data files
Disadvantages of file processing/Oriented approach
1) Data redundancy and inconsistency:
• The same information may be written in several files. This
redundancy leads to higher storage and access cost. It may lead
data inconsistency that is the various copies of the same data may
present at multiple places for example a changed customer address
may be reflected in single file but not else where in the system.
2) Difficulty in accessing data :
• The conventional file processing system do not allow data to be
retrieved in a convenient and efficient manner according to user
choice.
3) Data isolation :
• Because data are scattered in various files and files may be in
different formats with new application programs to retrieve the
appropriate data is difficult.
Disadvantages of file processing/Oriented approach
4) Integrity Problems:
• Developers enforce data validation in the system by adding appropriate
code in the various application program. How ever when new constraints are
added, it is difficult to change the programs to enforce them.
5) Atomicity:
• It is difficult to ensure atomicity in a file processing system when transaction
failure occurs due to power failure, networking problems.
• Example: Transfer of funds from one account to another should either
complete or not happen at all
6) Concurrent access:
• In the file processing system it is not possible to access the same file for
transaction at same time.
7) Security problems:
• There is no security provided in file processing system to secure the data
from unauthorized user access.
Database
• Database management system deals the knowledge of how data
stored and managed on a computerized information system. In any
organization, it requires accurate and reliable data for better
decision making, ensuring privacy of data and controlling data
efficiently.

• A database is organized collection of related data of an organization

stored in formatted way which is shared by multiple users. OR

• The database is a collection of inter-related data which is used to

retrieve, insert and delete the data efficiently.
Database
The main feature of data in a database are:

1. It must be well organized

2. It is related

3. It is accessible in a logical order without any difficulty

4. It is stored only once

• For example consider the roll no, name, address of a student stored
in a student file. It is collection of related data with an implicit
meaning. Data in the database may be persistent, integrated and
Database Approach

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Applications Application Application

Database
Management System

Student
Database
Why Database?
• In order to overcome the limitation of a file system, a new approach was
required. Hence a database approach emerged. A database is a persistent
collection of logically related data. The initial attempts were to provide a
centralized collection of data. A database has a self describing nature. It
contains not only the data sharing and integration of data of an organization
in a single database.

• A small database can be handled manually but for a large database and
having multiple users it is difficult to maintain it. In that case a
computerized database is useful.
Why Database?
• The advantages of database system over traditional, paper based

methods of record keeping are:

• Compactness: No need for large amount of paper files

• Speed: The machine can retrieve and modify the data more faster way

than human being

• Less drudgery: Much of the maintenance of files by hand is eliminated

• Accuracy: Accurate, up-to-date information is fetched as per

requirement of the user at any time.

Database Management System (DBMS):
• Database Management System (DBMS) is a collection of software programs that are used to
define, construct, maintain and manipulate data in a database.
• A database management system consists of collection of related data and refers to a set of
programs for defining, creation, maintenance and manipulation of a database.
Function of DBMS:
1. Defining database schema: it must give facility for defining the database structure also
specifies access rights to authorized users.
2. Manipulation of the database: The DBMS must have functions like insertion of record into
database, updation of data, deletion of data, retrieval of data
3. Sharing of database: The DBMS must share data items for multiple users by maintaining
consistency of data.
4. Protection of database: It must protect the database against unauthorized users.
5. Database recovery: If for any reason the system fails DBMS must facilitate database recovery.
Advantages of DBMS:
Reduction of redundancies:

• Centralized control of data by the DBA avoids unnecessary duplication of data and effectively reduces
the total amount of data storage required avoiding duplication in the elimination of the inconsistencies
that tend to be present in redundant data files.

Sharing of Data:

• A database allows the sharing of data under its control by any number of application programs or users.

Data Integrity:

• Data integrity means that the data contained in the database is both accurate and consistent. Therefore
data values being entered for storage could be checked to ensure that they fall with in a specified range
and are of the correct format.
Advantages of DBMS:
Data Security:

• The DBA who has the ultimate responsibility for the data in the DBMS can ensure that
proper access procedures are followed including proper authentication to access to
the DataBase System and additional check before permitting access to sensitive data.

Conflict Resolution:

• DBA resolve the conflict on requirements of various user and applications. The DBA
chooses the best file structure and access method to get optional performance for the
application.

Data Independence:

• Data independence is usually considered from two points of views; physically data
independence and logical data independence.
Disadvantage of DBMS:
1. DBMS software and hardware (networking installation) cost is high

2. The processing overhead by the DBMS for implementation of security, integrity

and sharing of the data.

3. Centralized database control

4. Setup of the database system requires more knowledge, money, skills, and time.

5. The complexity of the database may result in poor performance.

6. Conversion cost

7. Installation and management cost and complexity

8. Need for explicit backup and recovery

9. Organizational conflict
Database Basics:
Data item:

• The data item is also called as field in data processing and is the
smallest unit of data that has meaning to its users. Eg: “e101”,”sumit”

Entities and attributes:

• An entity is a thing or object in the real world that is distinguishable

from all other objects Eg: Bank, employee, student

• Attributes are properties are properties of an entity. Eg: Empcode,

ename, rolno, name
Relationship
• A relationship is an association between entities.